As the year comes to a close, I send my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your drive, passion, and dedication on behalf of UCSF and the students, patients, and communities that we are privileged to serve.

Reflecting on 2018, I remain heartened by our community’s commitment to build a better world. I deeply appreciate your continued willingness to face challenges with determination and your eagerness to seize opportunities to fulfill our mission of advancing health worldwide.

Whatever your role at UCSF, each of us can take great pride in our collective achievements over the year. Your contributions to biomedical research, patient care, and graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions are making a positive difference in the lives of others. Read about our work and accomplishments in the UCSF 2018 Year in Review.

On behalf of the UCSF leadership team, we send our warmest wishes to you and your families for a happy holiday season and a healthy new year.

David Odato, senior vice president, human resources, at UCSF Health and associate vice chancellor, human resources, for UCSF, has announced his decision to retire in June 2019.

David has worked at UCSF for more than 29 years, providing leadership for key UCSF-wide initiatives and multi-campus efforts for the University of California. He also has developed strategies and implemented programs to improve the experience for UC staff.

In his current role, he is responsible for human resources at UCSF, and leads strategic initiatives to ensure UCSF attracts, develops and retains diverse, top-tier talent. Odato also oversees human resources' strategic and operational activities as well as occupational health and learning and organizational development.

During his career, which started at Mount Zion in 1985, David has many accomplishments to celebrate. He has been instrumental in UCSF’s years-long transition journey to UC Path, the UC wide common system to support HR, payroll and benefits activities. His leadership was invaluable during times of significant change at UCSF and UCSF Health, particularly the merger and demerger with Stanford, and most recently our growth from a hospital to a health system with affiliations across the Bay Area. He has been very involved at the UC system level, including significant work on pension reform. David has led numerous improvement initiatives to enable HR to better support the expanding HR needs of a growing enterprise, work that will continue in his remaining time at UCSF and into the future.

David will assist in the transition as we recruit a new leader. We thank him for his extraordinary service and contributions...